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Beverly Wilson "Edna, as most of you know, had taken a year off from TOAA to deal with the chemo, and was planning to come back to us next year. Edna has been the publicity chairperson for TOAA before Judith took it on almost two years ago. I am so sad. Life is so short. She was a remarkable person." From Geri Gretan: "I met Edna about 18 or more years ago at an art class at Muriel Perow's house. Edna was such a quiet and thoughtful person that I wondered if I would ever really know her. As the years went by, we shared photos that we thought each other would appreciate...mostly double exposures.....and I collected the cards that she made. I knew that I should use them to send to others, but I greedily kept them for myself. I loved her art; she loved mine. What a friend. But more than that, to me Edna was "Light". Not the bright light like you get from Halogens, but the nice soft kind of light, like that from a bulb that somebody has turned down to illuminate the best qualities in a subject. As artists, we are always looking for and conscious of the light. Edna was Light. She was the best example of a person of quality, intelligence, thoughtfulness, talent and peace. Edna never raised her voice, but her deep subdued little laugh made everyone happy to be in her presence. She was complimentary: always finding good; shining the light on others and their projects and art. I always told her it wasn't fair that she competed with us non-Asians when she painted, because everyone could tell that she was born with the gene for making her paintings look like they came straight from the Orient. Edna was the light that shines from within, from her Soul, and her Soul connected with my Soul. I loved my Edna, and I miss her very much. I feel privileged to have shared the shining light of her Spirit uniting with mine. So Edna, be at peace. Be out of pain. Eventually we will join you . The East Indian greeting is "Namaste",, which means "I honor the place in you in which the entire Universe dwells. I honor the place in you which is of Love , of Truth, of Light and Peace. When you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, we are One. So Edna, 'Goodbye.....and "Namasti'." From Pong Apinyat: "To my adopted mom: Edna Okui. I met Edna in the fall of 1995 at one of the juried shows sponsored by the Westlake Village Art Guild. We connected with great conversations right away as if we had known each other for a long time. A funny thing happened that day. Barbara Weiss, president of the Art Guild at the time, came to join our conversation. She thought Edna was my mother. My response to her was how lucky I was to have another mother. My mother had passed away a few years ago. She passed away due to liver cancer. Edna and I have been good friends ever since. Off and on people still mistook us as mother and son. Her generosity, sincerity and kindness will always remain in our hearts, and she will be missed forever." From Phyl Doyon "To my dear Edna: Everyday I look at your wonderful paintings that decorate several rooms in our home. They have brought Carl and me much joy and they are unique because of the 'Edna' quality and magic. Your art is loved by many not only because of the quality of the work, but because of the quality of the person who created them! Edna, people who have known you can only say wonderful things. You may think I am being over generous with my statement, but it is true. You have always been non-judging, uplifting, and a positive person. You care about people! You show that because you are a good listener and good thru and thru. You truly care. A modest person, you are always ready to lift another and put them on a pedestal, rather than bring attention to yourself. You have a lot of class. My mother's side of the family were farmers. When you go to a farmer's home, you always go home with something. My grandmother was that way and so was my mother. I don't ever remember leaving your home without flowers from your garden, fruit from your productive trees, or veggies from the garden or from a friend's garden. I think your family was also farmers. Edna, you are one of the most generous persons I have ever know. I saved every card you gave me, every Japanese doll you created, and all the little gifts that were so 'Edna" Most were made in your home on Tuesday afternoon with your buddies: Joyce Okui, Eileen Hokana, Phyllis Macko and Sara Taylor. I think there were a couple of other ladies, but I am sorry I can't remember them. You and I met years ago in a class that I taught at the Arts Council in the old Janss House up on the hill in Thousand Oaks. We had several grand years painting there and having shows in the Fireplace room. We even painted that room. You were a fast learner, and always eager to practice and show someone else the techniques you learned. Once again, it was the 'Giving Thing". The trips we took, the qalleries and museums we shared and the little painting adventures will continue to be in my memory bank and with me forever. They are special, and I shall hold them tight. Carl says your sweet laugh with that little gentle smile is what he will remember most about you. He is right: your little giggle is a gentle touch and you touched so many people. Sometimes it had been two or three months since we have spoken or seen each other but when we got together again, it is as if it was yesterday. My dear Edna, I am writing this letter to you, because you are here now! You are all around us, just as you have always been, and the bond we share is a bond of a lifetime and even beyond. I see you now, next to that sweet smelling pond, with the warm sun shining on you, painting the swishing koi with those beautiful wet and juicy strokes. Until I see you again, my friend. Love, Phyl From Beverly and John Viola "We have appreciated Edna's talent and generosity as she so willingly gave her beautiful paaintings away to raise funds for so many non-profits. We were lucky to have two of her lovely paintings in our home. It has been such an honor to have Edna and Mitch as friends" From Pat Ellis "I met Edna Okui in 2001 when we rode on Saturdays to Chinese Art Classes with Harry Wang. They were returning students, and I was so new I wasn't sure I belonged there. Edna, Harry and the other artists welcomed newcomers with so much encouragement and praise that I soon felt quite at home. Edna stood out as one of the artists who, in a few masterful Chinese strokes, created beautiful paintings such as bamboo that was featured on the cover of an art magazine. She was modest and helpful, and at workshops she sat at the table and gave guest demonstrations in painting...such as how to create an Iris with three or four colorful strokes. She was generous with her time, her help, and also with gifts to the class: pan and ink cards of Chinese art from the trips she and Mitch took to China. Edna clearly had a style of her own. Eventually I asked if I could take lessons from her so that I might find whatever my style was. She smiled and said, 'You don't want me. You want Phyl Doyon.' She praised Phyl, Al Setton and Henry Fukuhara as her mentors. One year, Edna brought pictures to class of Lian Zhen's paintings and information about a summer workshop at Yosemite. My daughter and I met Edna and Mitch at the park, and each day they helped us find our way around. they seemed to be at home wherever they went. After that trip, when I think of Edna, I think of Edna and Mitch together and the love they radiated and shared with all of us." Elizabeth Miller "I have always loved and respected Edna for the generous and open person that she was, as well for her great creativity as an artist. I remember how she showed me how to paint Irises with just a couple of insightful Oriental brush strokes. When she was our 'Guest Artist' at the Gallery at the Landing, she was so well organized and had foreseen all the possible problems that might have arisen had she not been so perfectly prepared. But the last contact I had with her was during a watercolor workshop at the Thousand Oaks Community Gallery, when she sat real close to me. she came into the workshop with a bunch of plastic containers marked 'Flamingo Hilton', presumably used for ice cubes that she generously handed out to all the workshop participants. I still use her bucket! She will be missed by all who had any contact with her." Barbara Froloff "Edna and I were painting one day with the Thousand Oaks Plein Air painters and she was doing a lovely painting....she always did do great stuff! I asked her how she got the effects she was getting, and she told me she was using paper called 'Masa' which I had never heard of. She told me a little bit about it and the next time I saw her she had several sheets of it for me and told me just how to prepare it for paint. That was Edna, always encouraging and helpful and I thought it was so nice of her to do that for me! I will miss her." Anne Marilyn Oliver "When I first met Edna, I found her to be a gentle person. She tended to be the 'Calm Spot' in an "Artist Frantic" group at receptions, classes and workshops I 'm sorry we didn't get to know her longer."
Carole Salak "Edna Okui served on the Board of TOAA during my service years as Vice President and President (2002 - 2005). Though Edna rarely attended the monthly Board meetings, she was extremely conscientious in her duties as Publicity Chair. As I read all the testimonies above, I realize that my mental picture of Edna is so symbolic. It is of a humble woman standing with a basket in the doorway of the Gallery during a Membership Show reception. I had assigned Edna the task of handing out the small colored voting slips to visitors as they arrived for the reception. The visitors were to vote their choice in various categories of winners in that Membership show. I remember scurrying around the gallery with many tasks that evening, but each time I glanced toward the doorway, there was Edna quietly distributing those slips.....such a lowly position for such a talented artist. But that was Edna..... she was just filling in quietly where she was needed.....standing her post. My memory today of Edna as she stood there is of a person of SERVICE to the Artists' Community. To me, Edna personified that......service and community. Bill and I were out of the country for Edna's funeral (Spring Break), and I somehow also missed the recent reception at the Hillcrest's Memorial Show. But with April 2nd and the first anniversary of her death upon us, I hope I can finally make up for that. With this website tribute I want to publicly say: 'Thank you" Edna for your love for all of us. Thank you for showing us how with simple little things to express love, support and caring for each other. It was all tiny little details, but you left such a mark on us. Thank you, Edna. Rest in Peace" |
